BOROUGH wide blood tests should become easier for patients to obtain after Dudley health chiefs expanded the service.

For the first time, blood tests will be available to walk-in patients at the Guest Outpatient Centre.

The Dudley Group are also increasing the service at Corbett Outpatient Centre in Amblecote and hiring extra staff as a result.

Blood test appointments will also be made available at 14 GP practices across the borough to include areas such as Netherton, Brierley Hill, Kingswinford and Halesowen.

The move has been made to help ease pressure on Russells Hall Hospital, which has been stretched to the limits at times after blood tests were moved from the main outpatients to the therapy department.

Paula Clark, who is chief executive for the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust said: "The numbers of patients requiring blood tests can be as many as 600 a day at Russells Hall and 400 at Corbett.

"Because the service is open access and patients do not need to book an appointment, the numbers of patients we see each hour can be unpredictable. That's when the department can get very busy and overcrowded.

"To resolve this, we have expanded the service to Guest in response to patient requests for more choice of locations. We are now advising patients who need a blood test to choose the location that is best for them."

The expanded service has been backed by Dr Alec Wolinski, who is clinical director for diagnostics at the Trust.

He added: "We would strongly urge patients to visit a GP practice, Corbett or Guest to have a blood test instead of coming to Russells Hall, "The hospital can get extremely busy and patients will experience far shorter waiting times at one of our outpatient centres."

Blood tests can be booked at any of the following surgeries: Brierley Hill Health and Social Care Centre, Cross Street Health Centre, Feldon Lane Surgery, Hawne Lane Surgery, High Oak Surgery, Kingswinford Medical Practice, Ladies Walk.

Lion Health Medical Practice, Moss Grove Surgery, Netherton Health Centre, St Margaret's Well Surgery, The Limes Medical Centre, Three Villages Wollaston Surgery and Wychbury Medical Centre.